Leo sat on his ass opposite Luther, his back pressed against the refrigerator. "I am sorry, man," he immediately apologized. "When I found your front door unlocked, I figured you'd left it open for me, so I let myself in."
Luther nodded absently, realizing he hadn't locked it after Synthia left. Of course, he never would have barred Leo entrance anyway, and had in fact been meaning to give his cousin a key.
"Well, I smelled something amazing cooking and followed my nose to the kitchen." Leo paused and flushed, a hint of red creeping up his neck. "I saw your cute man there shimmying around the kitchen and I guess I kinda surprised him when I hugged him from behind."
Luther glared, just holding in his growl, knowing that would only undo the progress Deke had made. At the moment, his mate lay quiet and still in his arms, no longer whimpering, his breathing coming easier. If Deke's grip on Luther's forearm hadn't been so tight, he'd have thought his mate had dropped off to sleep.
Leo held up his hands in placation. "I didn't know he was your mate. I didn't know hugging him from behind and teasing him would freak him out."
"Teasing him?" Luther's brows shot up. Remembering what his alpha had said, that Deke had gone through something painful, he wondered if this could have reminded him of that somehow. Surely he would have heard back in Vegas if Deke had been hurt by the dingo shifters as his friend Dirk had been. "What did you say to him?"
Rubbing his forefingers over his brow, Leo appeared to be thinking back on his words. "I said … I said it smelled fantastic and that if this is how he cooked for a friend, could I take him home and get to know him."
"Friendly," Deke mumbled. "You wanted to get real friendly." He pulled away from Luther's hold just a bit and looked up at him, sadness in his gaze. "I don't want to be shared. I don't like ménages. I don't do that anymore." Tears gleamed on Deke's eyelashes as he whispered, "They never turn out good for me."
Rage and jealousy surged through Luther, but he knew he couldn't show it. He wanted to track down and tear apart the man who'd hurt his mate. First, he had to know who that person was. Lowering his head so his lips were near Deke's ear, Luther asked, "I will never share you, my mate. You are mine and mine alone. I will gut anyone who tries to take you away from me."
To Luther's relief, Deke cracked a smile. "Possessive much?"
Luther chuckled and nodded, resting his forehead against Deke's own. "Very much so," he admitted. He pressed a soft kiss to Deke's lips, then asked, "Are you willing to tell me what happened?"
Deke sighed, tipping his head away slightly to look at him clearly. "Yeah," he whispered. "After that freak out, I guess you deserve to know, huh?"
"I'd be happy to listen," Luther replied, hating to offer his mate an out, "but only if you want me to know. Just keep in mind, if you need protection, I can't do it if I don't know from what or whom. Hmm?"
Nodding, Deke pushed away from him. While loath to let him go, Luther obeyed the unspoken request and released his lover. "Let me check the casserole," Deke whispered, obviously buying some time. "Then, um, can we talk over supper? I'm not sure if I can eat much, but, well, it'd be a shame for my wonderful cooking to go to waste."
Luther nodded. "Of course." He turned to Leo. "Will you and Stephani cook the steaks while me and Deke clean up in here and finish the salad?" At this point, with his wolf still snarling for vengeance in the back of his mind, there was no way Luther could leave Deke's side.
Leo heaved to his feet and nodded. "Sure thing. How long do you need for whatever it is you're cooking, Deke?"
"Let me look," Deke muttered, obviously uncomfortable with the scrutiny.
While Deke peeked into the oven, Luther moved around him to the other counter and started cleaning up the lettuce. He kept what he thought was good and tossed what he didn't.
Evidently, Leo realized the same thing about Deke, because he opened the refrigerator and took out the plate of steaks. Turning, he glanced around then headed toward the seasonings still strewn across the island.
"You still use these?" Leo asked, picking up one, reading the label, then putting it back down. Grinning widely at Luther, he teased, "How does your wolf stand it?"
Luther snorted. "A little variety never hurt anyone."
"Is that why I got to choose between a baked potato, mac and cheese, or eggs?" Deke asked, closing the oven door and turning around to lean against the counter. "Because you like variety?"
While the quiet quip sounded forced to Luther's ears, especially since he knew how Deke's carefree teasing actually sounded, he appreciated that his mate was trying. While Leo guffawed, Luther sidled up to his mate and wrapped his arm around his shoulders.
"Well, I don't like too much variety," Luther rumbled, winking. "Although, whatever you have in the oven does smell amazing, my mate."
Deke smiled at him, some of the light returning to his green eyes. Then, he turned to Leo. "Sorry I freaked out on you," he said. "I'll, uh, I'll explain everything over dinner," he assured. "And the casserole will take another ten minutes to cook and five or so to cool before cutting."
"Twenty minutes, cute stuff," Leo responded, still chortling. "You got it." He turned to Stephani. "Come on, pretty girl," he urged, picking up a couple of seasonings. "You can show me how your father doctors these steaks."
Stephani appeared uncertain, her brows drawn as she glanced around at the men.
Luther gave Deke a reassuring smile before releasing him. Moving around the island, he crossed to his daughter and pulled her into a tight embrace. He nuzzled her temple, showing her affection and soothing her wolf.
"I guess we all have some adjusting to do," Luther whispered. "Can you give it time?"
Sighing, Stephani's arms clutching at his back tightly, she muttered, "I've never had to share you before."
"I know, baby. It'll be a change," Luther responded, racking his brain for some way to reassure his daughter that this wouldn't mean he wouldn't be there for her. Easing away, Luther settled his hands on her shoulders and smiled at her. "If Peggy really is your mate, I'd never ask you to stop seeing her or spending time with her. Think of it like that, huh?"
Stephani sighed, her brows furrowing. "Yeah, I can understand." She shrugged and rolled her eyes. "Still, it's not like I'll get used to it overnight."
Luther nodded. "I know. It's not an overnight thing for any of us, but we'll work it out." He grinned. "It's in our wolf nature. It won't be as hard as you think."
"I just hope Deke's okay," Stephani stated, stepping back and heading outside after Leo.
Me, too.
Luther turned and watched Deke in his kitchen. The human hummed as he continued preparing a salad, but his shoulders remained tense. He figured it was partly because of what had happened and partly because of their upcoming conversation. Either way, Luther vowed to find a way to help him past this, whatever it took.
Keeping half his attention on his mate, Luther finished the job Stephani had started earlier and set the table.
Before long, the casserole was baked, the steaks were cooked, and the salad ready.
Luther settled at the table with the others and they all dug in. After his first bite of the creamy, cheesy potato and veggie casserole, he hummed in amazed appreciation. He swallowed and met Deke's pleased grin.
"You like?" Deke asked, smirking.
"Very much so," Luther responded. "Where'd you learn to cook?"
Leo snorted. "Hell, I don't care where you learned to cook as long as I can drop in way more often than a few times a month."
"Thanks a lot, Uncle Leo," Stephani grumbled. "Family not good enough to increase visits now?"
"Well, of course," Leo responded glibly, stabbing a bite of steak. "Family is why I come several times a month. This," he said, pointing with his bite of meat at the other food, "would just be incentive to come more often." Snickering, Leo shoved the food into his mouth. He started chewing as he winked at the teenager.
"I learned from my grandmother," Deke cut in, probably anticipating the coming argument. Leo always had a way of riling Stephani as only family could. "She tried to teach my sister first, but she could burn water, and did so a few times. Finally, nana conceded and taught me instead."